Ensilage-packer.



P. M. HOWELL.

ENSILAGE PAOKER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25.1914.

H b 5 Z 1 IEI I Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

'HE NORRIS PEI mo 60., PHOTO-LITHIL, WASHING TON. D. I

ENSILAGE-IPACKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed April 25, 1914. Serial No. 834,402.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F REDERIOK M. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Rice and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ensilage-Packers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to silos such as are used for the storing of ensilage, and more particularly to an improved tamping device for packing ensilage within the silo.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of arotary ensilage tamper, which is positioned interiorly of the silo and has a plurality of revoluble rollers rotatably mounted within the silo for tamping or packing the ensilage therein, during the filling of the silo.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which 2-- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the silo showing the improved ensilage tamper mounted therein, and Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a silo as an entirety, which silo is cylindrical shaped and has the ordinary type of roof 2 mounted thereupon, through which the ensilage is inserted into the silo retaining portion proper.

The cylindrical body portion 3 of the silo, has diametrically extending braces l mounted upon its upper end, which braces have secured thereto a bearing 5, in which bearing is rotatably mounted a shaft 6. The shaft extends transversely to the vertical axis of the silo retaining body 3, and projects outwardly through the roof thereof, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, having a pulley 7 mounted upon its outer terminal ends. The pulley 7 has a belt or transmission conveyor 8, mounted thereabout, which belt has communication with any suitable type of prime mover (not shown) for furnishing the necessary power for rotating the pulley 7 and the shaft 6. The shaft 6 has a bevel gear 9 mounted upon its inner terminal end, which bevel gear meshes with the bevel gear 10. The bevel gear 10 is rigidly mounted upon the upper terminal end of a vertical shaft 11. The vertical shaft 11 is square in cross section, and extends longitudinally through the body retaining portion 3 of the silo, being disposed upon the central axis of the retaining body. The shaft 11 is rotatably seated in a bearing 12, which bearing is supported by the braces 4. The lower terminal end of the square shaft 11 is seated in a bearing 14., which bearing is centrally mounted in the base of the retaining body 3 of the silo, and is provided with any suitable type of anti-friction bearings, such as ball bearings, roller bearings or the like, against which the lower terminal end of the shaft 11 gages.

The square shaft 11 has slidably mounted thereupon the bearing 15, which bearing has securely connected thereto in any suitable manner laterally extending shafts 16 and 17 upon which shafts are revolubly mounted rollers 18 and 19. The rollers 18 and 19 are substantially frusto-conically shaped, having their bases positioned outwardly or adjacent the inner surface of the retaining body 3 of the silo, and their apices positioned inwardly toward the center of the body portion of the silo, and positioned toward the square shaft 3. The bearing 15 also has radially projecting arms 20 and 21, which arms have a plurality of depending teeth 22, thereby forming a rake for smoothing or leveling the ensilage which is deposited within the silo. Flat springs 23 are carried by the bearing 15 and engage with the outer surface of the rollers 18 and 19 near their inner ends or their apices, and they are provided for the purpose of relieving the shock occasioned by the movement of the bearing 15 and the rollers within the silo. The bearing 15 is slidably mounted upon the square shaft 11, for vertical sliding movement thereupon, and owing to the fact that the shaft 11 is square, the bearing 15 will rotate in unison with the rotation of the shaft 11, thereby rotating the rollers 18 and 19, and the arms 20 and 21 within the interior of the retaining body 3 of the silo.

When the ensilage is put into the silo, in the usual manner, the prime mover is operated, which rotates the shaft 6 and through the medium of the bevel gears 9 and 10 the shaft 11 is rotated, which in turn rotates the bearing 15 and the rollers 18 and 19 and arms 20 and 21 Within the body 3 of the silo, causing the rollers and the combs formed by the arms 20 and 21 and the depending teeth 22 to move about the upper surface of the ensilage as it is deposited Within the silo. The rollers 18 and 19, are of considerable Weight, so as to press the ensilage in the silo for the purpose of facilitating the filling of the retaining body 3 of the silo to its full capacity, and eliminating the necessity of letting the ensilage stand for a number of days for the purpose of settling before the silo becomes entirely filled. The rotary movement of the rollers and the arms Within the retaining body 3 will cause the rollers 18 and 19 to revolve, as they engage the upper surface of the ensilage, thereby aiding in the tamping or packing of the same. The combs or rakes formed by the arms 20 and 21 and the depending teeth 22 will level the ensilage, and prepare it for engagement With rollers 18 and 19.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation of the improved ensilage packer will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains and, While in the foregoing description the principle of the silo, a bearing slidably mounted upon said shaft for vertical movement within said silo and rotatable with said shaft, a plurality of ensilage tamping members revolubly carried by said bearings, a plurality of arms formed upon said bearing and radiating therefrom, depending teeth formed upon said arms for engaging the ensilage for leveling the same upon insertion of the ensilage into the silo, and means for rotating said rectangular shaft for rotating said bearing and ensilage tamping members and said leveling members Within said silo.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK M. HOWELL.

Witnesses W. J. CoYLE,

ELMER CARRIs.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

